Handwritten Letters Blakistone Key Leonardtown MD 1864-

Today Iâe(tm)m offering up a nice group of handwritten letters, 12 of which have their covers, and all belonging to the Blakistone family of Leonardtown Maryland. T are 30 letters and 8 receipts in this lot and the majority of the letters are addressed to Ella Blakistone and written by her brother Walter, her father James, Jame's wife Sallie and her Aunt. The letters start off in 1864 with the last letter dating 1880.

The Blakistone family was a very prominent Maryland family, in fact Ellaâe(tm)s father, James T. Blakistone was a member of the General Assembly of Maryland and t are two great letterheads from the House of Delegates and the Senateâe(tm)s Chambers written by her father. Her brother Walter also writes on Baltimore "Bank of Commerce" letterhead.

Ella was born in 1851and was the daughter of James Thomas Blakistone and Ann T. Thomas. The couple had 8 children, many of which are mentioned through out these letters.

The St. Maryâe(tm)s Academy, which opened up in 1855, is one of the first Catholic schoolsâe(tm)s for girls. It stands on the site of Rose Hill, the former estate of the Blakistone family. http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/voluntr/historicpreservcomm/images/sm422.jpg

Iâe(tm)ve quoted from a few of the letters to give you a better idea of their content, as followsâe¦..

"December 5 th , 1864

My Dear Ella,

âe¦..Poor Bates, after he was drafted he resigned. He is so generously troubled that we could not help forgetting all his failings and pitying him from the bottom of our hearts. He has not been since and I hope he may escape the draft. I feel very anxious for January 1 st to come and go so that we may feel ourselves more settled. Lansdale has some hands engaged for next year. Charlotte, Mary and Chloe desire to remain with us. I expect t will be a great deal of trouble with laborers. So many Negroes are crazy about setting up to housekeeping, an impossibilityâe¦âe¦.I hope you will be able to read this crossed letter. I am writing at night simply because the house is breathlessly quiet while the children sleep. I donâe(tm)t see well by candle lightâe¦âe¦Affectionately always, your aunt H."

"Charlotte Hall, June (canâe(tm)t make out the date)

Dear Ella,

âe¦âe¦âe¦We had a death about a hundred yards from yesterday. Mr. Jim Milliner was found dead in his bed, supposed to be killed by whiskey, as two hours for the last two weeks have not passed that he has not been drunk. His house is within talking distance of this. As ever your affectionate brother, Walter Blakistone."

"Cremona Jan. 6 th , 1866

My Dear Ella,

I was glad to get your letter by Jimmy Thomas and to hear you were all well. We hoped to have had you spend Christmas with us but it is always the dullest season of the year for us white folksâe¦âe¦We have been kept at home a great deal by sickness and it seems all the family will never be well again, at the same time you know too we have no carriage horses and Lansdale has not been well enough yet to drive in his buggyâe¦..Henry Adams and Miss Bradner were married at Charlotte Hall last week. We were invited but sent our regrets instead. I believe it was quite a gay affair but I understand the bride did not get her dress in time and the bridesmaids did not come so she must have felt quite put outâe¦..Your devoted Aunt, Maria."

"Bank of Commerce,

Baltimore, January 16 th , 66

Dear Ella,

âe¦âe¦.I hope you all are fixed by this time in regard to the servants. I learned from Bet that you had quite a jolly set of them. Sam, Maria for cook being an example. Tell her she had better learn to how to cook before I get down t or Iâe(tm)ll beat her certainâe¦.Most affectionately, Walter Blakistone."